Small Valley

Seeing the wounds on Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Yu took several bottles of healing medicine from his Storage Ring and handed them to her. "These are pills I refined myself. They're quite effective for healing wounds, so use them for now!"

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Yu in astonishment. "You're an alchemist too?"

Xiao Yu smiled. "Is it strange that I'm an alchemist?"

Xiao Yi Xian was instantly speechless, unable to find any reason to refute him. She simply felt that Xiao Yu was already so powerful, yet he was also an alchemist—what kind of monstrous genius did one have to be to achieve that?

But when she recalled the strange flames Xiao Yu had just displayed and connected them to his identity as an alchemist, Xiao Yi Xian no longer found it all that surprising.

Xiao Yu paid no attention to Xiao Yi Xian's daze. He beckoned toward the large tree, and Xiao Bai and Little Purple turned into two streaks of light as they appeared beside him.

Xiao Yi Xian glanced at Xiao Bai and Little Purple, affection filling her eyes. She asked Xiao Yu, "These two little fellows are so adorable! Are they your pets?"

Xiao Yu swept a glance over Xiao Bai and Little Purple before nodding. "That's right. One is called Xiao Bai, and the other is called Little Purple!"

To his surprise, Xiao Yi Xian immediately burst out laughing. "That's how you named these two little fellows?"

Xiao Yu was briefly dazed by Xiao Yi Xian's lovely smile, but quickly recovered. Shrugging, he said, "As the saying goes, humble names are easier to raise!"

At that moment, both Xiao Bai and Little Purple looked at Xiao Yu with dissatisfaction in their eyes. Xiao Yi Xian reached out and picked up Xiao Bai. Not only did Xiao Bai not resist, it even wore an utterly content expression, looking thoroughly punchable.

Looking at Xiao Bai lying in her arms, Xiao Yi Xian said with a giggle, "Looks like Xiao Bai likes me a lot!"

Xiao Bai found a comfortable position in Xiao Yi Xian's arms and narrowed its eyes, looking like some pampered lord. Watching Xiao Bai burrow about in Xiao Yi Xian's embrace, Xiao Yu muttered inwardly, This little guy isn't a male, is it?

However, Xiao Yu did not pay it any further attention. Instead, he asked Xiao Yi Xian, "How did the Wolf Head Mercenary Group set their sights on you?"

As she stroked Xiao Bai's soft fur, Xiao Yi Xian said, "I previously obtained a treasure map to a cave, with the cave's location marked on it. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group's young leader, Mu Li, learned about it from my assistant and followed me all the way to the cave. There were originally three stone boxes inside, but someone must have gotten there first. I only obtained a portion of the treasures!"

"Mu Li assumed I had obtained all of the treasure and demanded that I hand it over. Although I was lucky enough to escape afterward, Mu Li still refused to give up, so he ordered his men to hunt me down."

After hearing Xiao Yi Xian's words, a trace of embarrassment flashed through Xiao Yu's eyes. He was the one who had taken the things from that cave, yet that had become the reason she was being pursued by the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. He could not help feeling a little guilty.

Xiao Yi Xian glanced at Xiao Yu and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Yu came back to his senses. "Oh, nothing. I just thought of something."

Still, Xiao Yu felt that he had not exactly treated her unfairly. At the very least, he had left behind the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture. But thinking of the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture reminded him of something—the Calamity Poison Body!

Xiao Yi Xian glanced at Xiao Yu but did not press him further. She nodded and said, "I have a secret hideout in the Monster Mountain Range. Those people who ran off just now will definitely go report this. Why don't we head there first?"

Xiao Yu said with a faint smile, "If they come, I can deal with them all at once. But since you've suggested it, let's go take a look at your secret hideout!"

As for the Calamity Poison Body, Xiao Yu decided to ask Xiao Yi Xian about it later. After all, it was not something he could decide for her!

Xiao Yi Xian smiled softly, then took out a bamboo flute and placed it to her lips. Strange sound waves echoed through the forest. Xiao Yu knew she was calling her companion, seemingly a first-tier magical beast, the Blue Eagle.

"Screech!"

Not long after the strange sound waves spread out, a sharp cry rang through the air.

Xiao Yu looked up and saw a giant eagle covered entirely in azure feathers flying in from the horizon, rapidly swooping toward their location. In mere moments, the giant eagle was circling above their heads.

Xiao Yi Xian waved her hand, and the giant eagle gradually descended before lying down in front of her.

Xiao Yi Xian gently stroked the giant eagle's head as she introduced it. "This is my companion. Its name is Xiao Lan!"

Xiao Yu smiled. "How is that any different from the names I came up with?"

Hearing Xiao Yu's words, Xiao Yi Xian wrinkled her cute little nose. "Hmph, of course it's different. The Lan in Xiao Lan is the Lan from mountain mist!"

"Fine." Xiao Yu did not say anything else. Xiao Yi Xian hugged Xiao Bai and leaped onto Xiao Lan's back first, with Xiao Yu and Little Purple following close behind.

"Let's go, Xiao Lan. We're going home!" Xiao Yi Xian called.

Xiao Lan immediately let out a cry. Then, with a flap of its enormous wings, a powerful gust rose up, and Xiao Lan carried the two of them straight into the sky!

Xiao Lan's broad back was soft, and Xiao Yu found it extremely comfortable lying on it. Xiao Yi Xian also said in a relaxed tone, "Thank you so much for this!"

Xiao Yu replied casually, "No need to be polite. It was just a small favor!"

Xiao Yi Xian said nothing more. She merely quietly stroked Xiao Bai's fur. Xiao Lan flew swiftly, and before long, Xiao Yu saw a basin below filled with medicinal herbs. However, they did not stop there, instead flying directly into the depths of the basin!

They slowly descended into the depths of the basin. It was a small valley filled with dense energy and a rich medicinal fragrance. It was truly an excellent place for cultivation, and the abundant herbs here were perfect for refining some pills to use in the desert!

"How is it? Are you satisfied with the environment here? This valley is completely isolated from the outside world, and thick fog covers the sky above, making it extremely well-hidden. Xiao Lan brought me here by accident. Otherwise, even I would never have discovered it!" Xiao Yi Xian said with a rather proud laugh.

Xiao Yu also praised it. "This place really is nice. Aren't you afraid I'll claim it for myself after bringing me here?"

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Yu with a smile. "I'm quite good at judging people. Besides, if you hadn't saved me, I would have died at those people's hands long ago. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call you my lifesaver. Even if I gave this place to you, so what?"

Xiao Yu gave Xiao Yi Xian a thumbs-up at her words. "Now that's what I like to hear. Still, it's fine for me to stay here for a while, but even if you gave it to me, I wouldn't come here often. But since I'm your lifesaver, it's not too much to ask you to cook me a meal, right?"

Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes at Xiao Yu. "Look at you. Just wait!" With that, she darted into a small grove. Before long, she returned with two plump wild rabbits in her hands.

Night fell. Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Yu sat before a bonfire, roasting two fat rabbits dripping with oil. Xiao Bai and Little Purple lay nearby, practically drooling as they waited for the rabbit meat, while Xiao Lan stood behind Xiao Yi Xian. It was clear that Xiao Lan and Xiao Yi Xian had a very close relationship!

"Alright, it's ready. Try it and see how it tastes!" Xiao Yi Xian handed one roasted rabbit to Xiao Yu, then divided the other one among Xiao Bai, Little Purple, and Xiao Lan.

"Mm, it's really good!" Xiao Yu praised.

Xiao Yi Xian smiled without saying anything, and the two humans and three beasts dug in heartily.